Degrazia Elementary School

Worst school we've ever encountered. Ever. Ever.

Oh, where to begin? My children have been in attendance since my eldest entered kindergarten. Each year the school goes further and further down hill. Over the past 5 years there have been two changes in administration, the latest of which has been a complete joke. The current principal has no follow through with issues parents bring to his attention and blows off major concerns. Look around the campus and you will see that 90% of the teachers and staff look completely annoyed and unapproachable. The school secretary comes across as very rude and snarky, and talks down to parents. For the most part the teachers look disinterested and are down right mean to students when they think parents are not watching. I could understand this level of attitude in a high school environment when you are dealing with teenagers and their own self-serving attitudes, but at an elementary school? Only at big events when lots of parents are in attendance do they slap on a fake smile and make nice. Walk around the campus a few minutes before or after and you will see the true attitude at the school, and the students are picking up on it and starting to emulate what they see. It's so very sad.

Degrazia Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in Tucson. I have had my kids in each the Tucson Unified District and Marana, and Marana School District is amazing. The kids are all so hard working, the teachers are eager to help and welcome you into the class any time. Not to mention the surrounding neighborhood. It is a very safe community and tons of kids, my children love the neighborhood!

This school has the potential to have a great community of involved & supportive parents, but they don't seem to welcome it. Every new rule created seems to push parents further and further away, which baffles me, because research clearly shows that involved parents leads to a better overall educational experience for children. Teach in any impoverished school, and see just how negative the effects of lack of involvement really are. They take it for granted here and often show disdain for it. That being said, the teachers are fantastic and do their absolute best with what they have. They can't do anything about admin or the overstuffed classrooms. From the parent and student perspective, this school was better 3 years ago before new admin, and with the change of admin again this year, it can only get better. If I had the choice to do it all over again, I'd still have sent my kids here. But I would do so with realistic expectations about the way they run things. I know it could be much worse. I just shouldn't have to work so hard to support my kids. There are still some VERY positive things going on at Degrazia, including music & PE twice a week. I know both are rare these days!